Firearm with side loading magazine



Oct. 20, 1959 H. is; ALITYN FIREARM WITH SIDE LOADING MAGAZINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1957 INVENTOR.

Oct. 20, 1959 H. D. ALLYN 2,908,987

FIREARM WITH SIDE LOADING MAGAZiNE I Filed June 25, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M r? .mmflr IN VEN TOR. Jig/W??? 7 United States Patent 2,908,987 FIREARM wrrn SIDE LOADING Harold D. Au n,.s rmgfielu, Mass.

ApplicationJune 25, 1957., Serial No. 667,924

8 Claims. (CI. 42-18) While the magazine hereof is illustrated .as being adapted for use with a firearm of the autoloading type, it will be understood that the invention is not .to-he considered as restricted thereto, it being adapted for-use on any type of repeating firearm.

It is still another object hereof to provide va construction which permits the use of oversize .or full width bolt locking and unlocking cam surfaces occupying the greater portion of the width of the bottom opening of the receiver, the structure hereof being of the side load- [ing and not of the bottom loadingtype.

The use of relatively large cam surfaces .on the breech block and the slide block olfers .a relatively stronger construction and for withstanding the stresses due to autoloading firing.

Additionally, it permits the elimination ofthe conventional helicals and helical cuts normal for firearm locking and unlocking purposes.

The magazine catch is a simple, one-piece construction which may be made from a stamping, if desired, and may be retained within the firearm by its own associated spring component, whereby screws, pins or the like for such purpose are eliminated.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a partial side elevational view of an autoloading firearm of the typeshown in my copending appli- I Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the firearm shownin Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line'33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the magazine looking at the inside wall thereof;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 3 showing an 7 empty magazine being removed from the firearm;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the magazine similar to Fig. 4 and showing the magazine follower being assembled with the magazine;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line i7 '7of 5;

j;In the drawings, I have shown in Fig. 1 the general outline of .the midsection, in outside view, of a typical firearm, showing a stock 2, a butt portion 3, and a fore end cover 4 which may be made of wood, plastic, metalor equivalent material.

, These members are associated with a rear cap 8, a receiver 10, a magazine generally indicated by 16, a magazine catch 18, ;an operating handle 20, a trigger 21, a safety 22, a trigger guard 24, a front bedding screw 26, a rea-r guard screw 28, a front bedding plate .30, a buffer plate 32 and a stock plate 34.

Shown in dash lines are the breech block generally indicated by 99 and the rim retainer generally indicated by 128. H p e The .magazine of the invention, :best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and ,5, comprises spaced arcuate inner and outer side walls 300 and 302 respectively, having their side edges connected .by, arcuate shaped end walls 306'to form a substantially arcuate shaped cartridge chamber.

The magazine casing, above described, may of course vary in size and shape for purposes of ease of manufacture without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The upper portions of the walls are curved, and the lower portions thereof are substantially vertically disposed, as best shown in Fig. 5. The upper portions of the Walls are provided with an open mouth 308 at the upper extremities thereof through which cartridges C are singly loaded for use in the breech of the'firearm or ejected therefrom as will be hereinafter observed.

The lower end portion of one of the side walls 302 is formed so as to provide a bottom wall 310, which wall 310 abutsythe other :side wall 300 slightly above the lowermost extremity thereof whereby a longitudinally extending lip 301 is provided below the plane of the bottom wall 310, as best shown in Fig. 5.

A magazine feed spring comprises a plurality of relatively long serpentine coils 314 and a plurality of relatively short serpentine coils 316. The topmost series of coils includes the short coils 316 and the lowermost series of coils includes the long coils 314. The magazine feed spring is formed from a single length of wire, the lower end of the series of short coils and'the upper end of the series of long coils being interconnected, all as best shown in Fig. 4.

In the assembly of the magazine, the spring is fed into the casing with the series of long coils 314 being inserted thereinto first so as to be receivable in the lower portion thereof and with the series of short coils 316 being inserted thereinto last and compressed downwardly so that all coils thereof are disposed within the casing. It will be understood that the series of short coils are disposed rearmost within the casing relative to the firearm upon attachment thereto.

By this means, the rear of the rims of cartridges C therein are held against the rear of the magazine car 330 regardless of the number of cartridges in the magazine.

A curved follower 320 is of such dimension as to be receivable within the magazine. Same is a simple stamping of circular cross section, having an elongated slot throughout its length and generally indicated by 321 in Figs. 5 and 6, and may be assembled within, or disassembled from, the magazine through the opening or mouth 308 without special tools for the operations being necessitated.

In assembling, the top of the spring may be depressed slightly by 'a finger of the operators right hand while the follower 320, held in his left hand, is rotated slightly clockwise and slid over the top of the spring and beneath the magazine car 330 which is an extension of the outer wall 302.

The forward end of the follower 320 is then pressed r a F 3 into the magazine casing in the manner of'a cartridge being loaded into the magazine.

When the follower is completely disposed within the magazine casing, it may be pressed downwardly with a finger of the right hand as far as it will 'go and may then, upon release, be allowed to snap back or to move upwardly or outwardly.

The magazine spring presses upwardly against the follower 320 in such manner as to cause the follower to rotate counterclockwise and to assume the position where it is retained within the magazine, bearing against the ear 330. I

To disassemble, it may-be convenient to insert the point of a cartridge underneath the outermost front protruding circular portion of the follower320, as shown in Fig. 8, and to press the thumb on the follower-whereby the follower is rotated slightly clockwise, following which the follower 320 may be withdrawn from 'the magazine in a manner reverse to that procedure followed in the assembly of the structure. Y

The follower, as is conventional, supports -'a column of cartridges C.

The cartridges C are loaded in the magazine in the manner conventional for magazines of the detachable box type. A cartridge is placed on the follower, the

follower is depressed and the rear end of thecartridge is slid under the magazine ear 330. V The second *cartridge is placed on top of the first cartridge and the operation is thereupon repeated until the magazine is full. 1

The upper extremity of the outer wall 302 of the magazine is provided with an upwardly extending magazine lug 332, as shown, which lug is receivable'in an appropriately dimensioned and positioned complemental slot 332' in the receiver 10, as shown in Fig.5; The upper end portion of the inner side wall- 300-bearson the bottom of the magazine cut in the receiver whereby the guidance of the lug 332 into the slot 332 is aided.

The lower end portion of the magazine is brought downwardly and inwardly so as to bring the inner. wall 300 into close adjacency with the adjacent outer vertical wall of the stock 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3.

A magazine catch is generally indicated by the numeral 18 in Fig. 9 and includes a U shaped portion 333 and a cam surface 334 extending outwardly away from one side thereof. w

The magazine catch is receivable within an (appropriately dimensioned and positioned slot 44 in one side of the stock plate 34. The slot in the stock plate holds the magazine catch in place longitudinally.

A magazine catch spring 336 is of the wire type and is inserted endwise between the outermost vertical side wall in the stock plate 34 and the innermost wall of the U shaped portion of the magazine catch, as'shown in When the magazine is assembled on the firearm, the cam surface 334 of the magazine catch 18 is cammed downwardly by the lowermost projecting portion 301 of the wall 300 of the magazine, whereby the magazine may be properly positioned relative to the stock. The magazine catch then snaps upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3 whereby the magazine is securely locked in place. 7

It will be noted that the weight of the magazine is supported by the-curved lower portion of the magazine cut in the receiver, aided by the magazine lug. The magazine catch prevents outward movement only.

In operation, when the last cartridge from the magazine has been fired, the follower moves outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 8, its movement being limited by the magazine ear 330. In this position, the rear end of the follower is in a position for abutting the forward face of the breech block 99 when same moves forwardly in its reloading stroke whereby the continued forward movement of the breech block is prevented.

The magazine follower thus acts as a stop so as to hold the breech block and thereby to signal to the operator that the gun is empty.

The operator then pulls the operating handle 20 slightly rearwardly. By applying sidewise pressure, the operating handle 20 is urgedinto a slot 151 in the plate 34.- See Fig. 2..

While I have illustrated and described the invention as embodied in certain specific arrangements, I do not intend to be limited to the details shovm since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the inven- .tion. Without further analysis, the foregoing is in- The magazine catch and magazine catchsp'ring are assembled in the stock plate and the plate is then placed on the stock of the firearm, the slot on the side of the stock plate being aligned with a complementary notch in the stock 2. A magazine catch cut out portion of the stock prevents the endwise movement of the magazine catch spring, as best shown in Fig. 7.'

If the magazine catch is pulled outwardly with considerable force, the magazine catch spring 336 might assume a vertical position and allow the magazine catch to be withdrawn from the slot were it notforfthe bend ends 338 of the magazine catch'spring'which' are bent first inwardly and then outwardly and downwardly as shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 7. This prevents the magazine catch spring from being pulled to a vertical position catch spring and ends thereof in Figs. 3 and 5.

tended to so fully reveal the gist of my invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which, from the standpoint of prior art,'fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended Within the meaning and range. of equivalence of the claims below.

What it is desired to claim and secure. by Letters Patent of the United States is: i I

1. For use with a firearm including a receiver and a stock and a stock plate, the improvement comprising,

a side-loading detachable type magazine feed box adjacent the loading chamber of the firearm and including a cartridge holding chamber having an upper feed end and a spring actuated follower adjustably receivable in the cartridge-holding chamber for causing cartridges .therewithin to project upwardly in a feeding manner toward the feeding end thereof and outwardly therethrough upon release into the loading chamber of the firearm, a self retaining magazine catch having a U shaped portion receivable a slot in the stock plate of the firearm and a cam portion extending outwardly away therefrom, and a magazine catch spring receivable the U shaped portion of said magazine catch, the cam portion of said magazine catch being cammable by said magazine feed box for the locking of said magazine feed box in embracing position adjacent the stock of the firearm upon assembly.

2. In combination with a firearm including a receiver and a stock and a stock plate, the improvement comprising, a side-loading detachable type magazine feed box adjacent the loading chamber of the firearm and including a cartridge holding chamber'having an upper feeding end and a slidable spring actuated follower in the cartridge holding chamber for causing cartridges therewithin to project upwardly in a feeding manner toward the feeding end thereof and upon release outwardly therethrough into the loading chamber of the firearm, a self retaining magazine catch engageable with the stock plate and having an outwardly extending cam portion, the cam portion of said magazine catch being 3 position adjacent the stock of the firearm.

amass? 5 car'nmable by said magazine feed box for the locking of said magazine feed box in embracing position adjacent the stock of the firearm upon assembly.

3. In combination with a firearm including a receiver and a stock and a stock plate, the improvement comprising, a side-loading detachable type magazine feed box adjacent the loading chamber of the firearm and including an upper open ended cartridge holding chamber and a spring actuated follower in the cartridge holding chamber for causing cartridges therewithin to project in a feeding manner in an upwardly inclined direction toward the openended feeding means thereof and outwardly therethrough into the loading chamber -of the firearm, a self retaining magazine catch being engageable with the stock plate of the firearm and having an outwardly extending cam portion cammable by said magazine feed box for the locking of said magazine feed box in embracing position adjacent the stock of the firearm upon assembly.

4. In' a firearm including a receiver and a stock, the improvement comprising, a side-loading detachable type magazine feed box including a cartridge-holding chamber having an upper feed end and a spring-actuated follower adjustably receivable within the'chamber for moving cartridges therewithin upwardly toward the feed end and outwardly therethrough upon release into the firearm loading chamber, a self-retaining magazine catch having a U-shaped portion and a cam portion extending outwardly away therefrom, and a magazine catch spring receivable within the U-shaped portion of said magazine catch, the cam portion of said magazine catch being cammable by said magazine feed box for the locking of said magazine feed box in embracing position adjacent the stock of the firearm.

5. In combination with a firearm including a receiver and a stock, the improvement comprising, a side-loading detachable type magazine feed box including a cartridge holding chamber having an upper feeding end and a slidable spring-actuated follower in the chamber for moving cartridges therewithin upwardly toward the feed end thereof and upon release outwardly therethrough into the loading chamber of the firearm, and a self-retaining magazine catch having an outwardly ex- ;tending cam portion, the cam portion of said magazine rcatch being cammable by said magazine feed box for -.the locking of said magazine feed box in embracing 6. In combination with a firearm including a receiver and a stock, the improvement comprising, a side-loading detachable type magazine feed box including an upper open-ended cartridge holding chamber and a springactuated follower within the chamber for causing cartridges therewithin to feed in an upwardly inclined direction toward the open-end of the chamber and outwardly therethrough into the loading chamber of the firearm, a self-retaining magazine catch having an outwardly-extending cam portion cammable by said magazine feed box for the locking of said magazine feed box in embracing position adjacent the stock of the firearm.

7. A cartridge magazine of the side-loading detachable type being readily attachable to the receiver of a firearm adjacent the loading chamber of the firearm and adapted to contain a series of horizontally-disposed cartridges resting upon one another in substantially vettically-staczked relation comprising, spaced inner and outer side walls connected by opposite end walls forming therewith a channelled cartridge chamber, said side walls being substantially parallel to a vertical plane through the longitudinal axis of the receiver and having upper ends curved toward the said longitudinal axis and providing a feed opening into the loading chamber of the firearm, a follower receivable within the cartridge chamber and adapted to accommodate and engage the lowermost of the cartridges of the series thereof, and a feed spring means disposed within the cartridge chamber below said follower for urging said follower and the cartridges of the series thereof upwardly toward the feed opening in the cartridge chamber for successive release therefrom into the loading chamber of the firearm, said feed spring means comprising, a single wire member formed with a lower portion having a plurality of serpentine coils of a certain length and an upper portion having a plurality of serpentine coils of less than said certain length, said wire member being compressible into the channelled cartridge chamber with the series of short coils being disposed rearmost within said box for bearing upwardly against the lowermost cartridges of the series thereof.

8. In a firearm, the improvement in a cartridge magazine of the side-loading detachable type being readily attachable to the firearm receiver adjacent the loading chamber and adapted to contain a series of horizontallydisposed cartridges resting upon one another in substantially vertically-stacked relation comprising in combination, spaced inner and outer side walls connected by opposite end Walls forming therewith a channelled cartridge chamber, said side walls being substantially parallel to a vertical plane through the longitudinal axis of the receiver and have upper ends curved toward the said longitudinal axis and providing a feed opening into the loading chamber of the firearm, a follower receivable within the cartridge chamber and adapted to accommodate and engage the lowermost of the cartridges of the series thereof, a feed spring means disposed within the cartridge chamber below said follower for urging said follower and the cartridges of the series thereof upwardly toward the feed opening in the cartridge chamber for successive release therefrom into the loading chamber of the :firearm, an upper protruding magazinelug extending upwardly from one of said side walls and being receivable in a complemental slot in the firearm receiver and a lower protruding magazine lug for retaining the cartridge magazine in fixed relation with the firearm stock during operational use.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Norway Feb. 1, 

